Concrete run area question

[kenelsner]

Hey all. Just wondering if anyone has suggestions for the bottom of my coop. I have it built on an existing cement pad and have tried everything from peat moss to pea gravel as a cover. Both work, but are ridiculous to clean. Our girls have a fair amount of time in yard so I'm considering just leaving the concrete as is. Thoughts?

Ken

 

[gillisjordan]

The concrete is fine, if you have a cold season you could throw some hay bedding or pine shavings down to warm it up but other than that you're fine

 

[Folly's place]

Welcome! My coop and run are on concrete, and it's great. I use shavings in both places; deep bedding in the coop, mixed shavings and stuff in the run. No predators can dig in, wonderful. Mary

 

[kenelsner]

Thanks for the affirmation. I have some tweeking to do for rodents, but will stay with the bare concrete.

 

[aart]

I would think that bare concrete in the coop would be a bear to clean, poops will stick like glue and washing with water not good for coop environment unless you have an excellent drainage configuration. Bare concrete in a humid environment create condensation, mixed with chicken poop could be very slippery and nasty.

You'll probably want some kind of bedding down to absorb the moisture from the poops.
Depending on how high your roosts are them jumping down on concrete could be hard on their feet.

I use poop boards under roosts and shavings on floor, clean boards every 2-3 days and totally change out shavings 1-2 times a year...all goes to compost.

 

[kenelsner]

We're in Colorado, so it's pretty dry. But I'm wondering what you mean by poop boards?

 

[chynasparks]

Poop boards are a "tray" built under the roost where the chickens stay at night. It catches the droppings. Chickens poop all night while roosting making a big pile. My little set up is a caddy style box. It fits in the upper level roost/nest area. The chickens roost on the bar and drop in the box area. I fill it with sand and sweet pdz for odor control. Then I scoop like kitty litter. It's so easy. Big coops build it in under the roost bars. Mine, I can pull it out if needed for a more thorough cleaning.

 

[chynasparks]

My coop and run are on a concrete slab. In the coop I cover with play sand, PDZ and some diamethious earth. I freshen with pdz now and then. I change the sand out once a year. Been working great. The run is new this year. 10x10x6 chain link kennel on the back of remaining slab. I put a play sand box in the center for dust baths. I'm not sure yet what other material should go in. We aren't done, need to complete the roofing. First flock suffered predator attack. I will be able to open their door to come out all day in this area while I'm at work. Close the door at night. When this area is completed we are adding a front area on the ground. This will be supervised outings only since we aren't roofing it. I will most likely put netting over the top though. We have Hawks. I want this new flock of sweet girls to die of old age! They are my girls, my pets.

 

[aart]

We're in Colorado, so it's pretty dry. But I'm wondering what you mean by poop boards?

I fight humidity most the year round.

Poop boards are a "tray" built under the roost where the chickens stay at night. It catches the droppings. Chickens poop all night while roosting making a big pile. My little set up is a caddy style box. It fits in the upper level roost/nest area. The chickens roost on the bar and drop in the box area. I fill it with sand and sweet pdz for odor control. Then I scoop like kitty litter. It's so easy. Big coops build it in under the roost bars. Mine, I can pull it out if needed for a more thorough cleaning.

Yep!
Boards had just been cleaned in this pic.

 

[iawoodchip]

Seventy years ago my parents raised chickens on a cement floor. Since I was a tag-a-long kid to my dad, scraping the manure from the cement floor once a year was a real hassle. In my older life, and after reading post after post on BYC about the deep litter method, I'm totally convinced. So many advantages!